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Loon Turns Back Challenge Over Gay Marriage

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — State Rep. Jenifer Loon, the second-ranking Republican in the Minnesota House, has survived a primary challenge brought on by her vote in favor of gay marriage.

Loon’s onetime campaign manager, Sheila Kihne, decided to run after Loon voted last year to legalize gay marriage. Kihne called the vote a flip-flop for Loon.

Loon defended the vote on the campaign trail as the will of her constituents. And the Eden Prairie district apparently agreed in Tuesday’s primary, brushing off big spending from some family-value groups who sought to punish her.

Loon had her own backing from GOP groups who want the party to focus on fiscal issues rather than social issues.